OneRoom Appoints Justin Whatley as Chief Revenue Officer

Funeral industry leader brings 15 years’ experience to strengthen OneRoom’s support for homes across the US
Houston, Texas, October 22 – OneRoom, the trusted funeral streaming provider, has appointed Justin Whatley as Chief Revenue Officer.

With more than 15 years in the profession and a family legacy in funeral service, Whatley brings deep industry knowledge and senior leadership to OneRoom’s work with funeral homes throughout North America.

“Justin knows the profession, and a lot of the people in it,” said Brady Cox, CEO of OneRoom. “He’s respected and understands what matters to funeral homes. As our platform continues to evolve, having someone of his calibre leading in the US gives us the senior focus and direct support our customers deserve.”

“OneRoom offered me the opportunity to give something truly valuable back to families,” said Whatley. “It allows people to attend remotely, but more importantly, it offers families the ability to go back and hear the poignant moments that reflect a loved one’s life well lived. That’s transformative.”

Based in Colorado, Whatley will lead OneRoom’s work with funeral homes across the United States and Canada He’ll focus on helping funeral homes reduce operational workload and provide families with a high-quality record of the service. With tools that work and leadership grounded in the profession, OneRoom is here to back funeral homes in doing their best work.

“COVID created this space, and for better or worse, it left some funeral homes unsure about how streaming fits,” Whatley added. “OneRoom has made it their mission to take the complexity out of it. I hope to show homes that this can be simple to offer, meaningful to families, and genuinely profitable. Profitability and serviceability do not have to be mutually exclusive.”

About OneRoom

OneRoom is a hands-free funeral streaming platform used by homes across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. With zero-effort setup, automated scheduling, and full guest support, it removes the burden of streaming from funeral staff – while opening up new opportunities to grow.

Foundation Partners Group Appoints New Directors to Guide Future Growth

Four new members bring deep expertise in deathcare, transformation & financial services

WINTER PARK, Fla. (October 23, 2025)  Foundation Partners Group, the nation’s second largest provider of funeral services, today announced the appointment of four seasoned executives to its board of directors. The additions, effective immediately, broaden the board’s collective experience across the deathcare, consulting and financial services industries.

The new directors include:

• Mark Laber, managing director at global consulting firm BRG
• Knut Olson, CEO of Federal Life Insurance Group
• Raphael “Ray” Wallander, owner, chairman and CEO of Maxwell Bay Advisors, LLC
• Bill Williams, former president & CEO, and current consultant at Funeral Services, Inc. (FSI)

“This outstanding group of funeral industry veterans and business transformation leaders share our vision for the future of deathcare, and the vital role Foundation Partners will play,” said John D. Smith, CEO of Foundation Partners Group. “Their insights will be instrumental as we scale as a unified operating company and continue delivering end-of-life care rooted in simplicity, transparency and trust.”
Director Profiles

Mark Laber

Laber, a managing director within the corporate finance and turnaround practice at BRG, has advised on more than 50 transactions across multiple industries during his tenures at BRG, FTI and PwC. Based in New York, he specializes in working with companies and their investors during times of operational improvement and change.  

Knut Olson

With more than 30 years in life, health and annuity insurance, Olson is known for driving innovation, capital management and product development. As CEO of Federal Life Insurance Group, he launched a global reinsurance business and expanded accident and health operations. Previously, as president and CEO of National Guardian Life Insurance Company, he led upgrades in industry ratings and grew niche markets including preneed and long-term care insurance.

Raphael “Ray” Wallander

Wallander, founder of Maxwell Bay Advisors, has advised and served on the boards of more than 10 private companies. He specializes in corporate transformation, restructuring and governance. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at Wayzata Investment Partners, including corporate counsel and general counsel.
Bill Williams

A licensed funeral director since 1980, Williams has deep experience in funeral home and cemetery management, as well as regulatory and legislative advocacy. He served as president and CEO of Funeral Services, Inc. (FSI) for more than two decades before its acquisition by Argent Financial Group, where he now consults on funeral and cemetery trust administration and preneed programs.

“I am proud to welcome these leaders to the Foundation Partners board,” Smith added. “Together, we are well-positioned to support our frontline teams and advance our mission of providing meaningful, family-centered care.”

About Foundation Partners Group  

Winter Park, Florida-based Foundation Partners Group is one of the industry’s most innovative providers of funeral services and the second-largest funeral home group in the country based on the number of families served. Foundation Partners owns and operates a network of over 250 funeral homes, cremation centers and cemeteries across 21 states. Our deep understanding of technology and customer experience-centered approach allows us to deliver truly innovative and compassionate care to the families we serve. Visit www.foundationpartners.com to learn more.

PlotBox Appoints Cindy Yates as Senior VP of Sales, North America

Tues Aug 26th, 2025, Boston: Leading deathtech solutions provider PlotBox today announced the appointment of Cindy Yates to a newly created role as Senior VP of Sales, North America.

Yates brings a wealth of experience to the role, having led teams within the EdTech, FinTech, GovTech, and non-profit sectors, and 20 years as an executive team member of multiple Private Equity-backed companies.

Yates said, “I’m delighted to join PlotBox in helping to spearhead our next phase of growth here in the US.  I’ll be applying my background in delivering growth and retention strategies for multimillion-dollar SaaS companies to put us in the best possible position as we scale the business, onboard new customers, and introduce new innovations to the marketplace.  We have an exceptional sales team here on the ground, and I’m looking forward to increasing our footprint and building upon the successes we’ve already achieved across North America.”

Yates’s appointment follows a recent strategic investment by Serent Capital, a growth-focused private equity firm, creating a partnership designed to help fuel PlotBox’s expansion, drive continued innovation, and enhance customer outcomes across North America, the UK, Ireland, and APAC.

PlotBox CCO Leona McAllister said, “I’m very pleased to welcome Cindy to the PlotBox commercial team. Cindy’s record of delivering fast, organic growth within SaaS business environments is second to none, making her the ideal person to bring more leadership to the region as we grow. That, in turn, will help us to continue to serve the complex needs of sophisticated, large-scale operators, with the scalability needed to support the needs of multi-location cemeteries, crematories, and funeral homes of all sizes.”

PlotBox is the innovative cloud-based deathcare management solution that helps cemeteries, crematories, and funeral homes to excel.  The intuitive, easy-to-use platform seamlessly places all essential deathcare management functions into one place. This enables customers to serve better, save time, increase revenue, reduce risk, and sustain long-term growth.

The 130-strong company is headquartered in Northern Ireland, with on-the-ground teams in the United States. This means the growing multidisciplinary team can consistently deliver exceptional levels of service, both globally and locally.PlotBox is more than a vendor. They are a dedicated partner focused on each customer’s success – and the families they serve.

Starmark Appoints Dan Cook as Vice President of Business Development

Recognition Reflects Cook’s Leadership and Commitment to the Funeral Profession

RICHMOND, IN, June 19, 2025 – Starmark, the cremation solutions leader, has announced the appointment of Dan Cook as its Vice President of Business Development. Cook joined Starmark in 2023 as a leader from day one. His appointment as Vice President of Business Development can be compared to graduating from “Funeral Care University.” Cook gets the funeral business. 

Cook shared: “I love working with the Starmark team, who shares the common goal of helping families navigate loss and honoring their loved ones through funeral service. What I have found most rewarding is developing strong relationships with funeral professionals and helping them do better.” 

“Cook’s appointment as Vice President of Business Development marks another step forward for Starmark’s organization. His strategic insight, passion for the funeral profession, and commitment to excellence epitomize what makes Starmark special to funeral professionals.” – Justin Davis, President.

Cook holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Psychology (B.B.A.) but credits his most significant learning to hands-on experience. “I’m honored to serve funeral professionals through Starmark. Having a background in sales, accounting, and finance, I see so many ways that Starmark can improve funeral service. What a pleasure it is to build upon existing and develop new Starmark friendships.”

About Starmark: Starmark creates Sensible Solutions® for funeral professionals to help families more easily honor life’s most meaningful moments with grace and respect. It is all about celebrating the lives of loved ones with dignity and care. This belief inspires everything we at Starmark do, allowing funeral service professionals and families to focus on love, legacy, and healing.  For more information, visit: www.starmarkcp.com 

PlotBox Appoints Deena Timmons as Head of E-Commerce

Thurs Jun 5th, 2025, Boston: Leading deathtech solutions provider PlotBox today announced the appointment of Deena Timmons as Head of E-Commerce.  Deena brings a wealth of deathcare experience to the role. She was a founding member and leader at Tribute Technology – playing a major role in growing the business to become a key player in the digital funeral services market.  As Head of E-Commerce, Deena will drive PlotBox’s EverAfter Cemetery and Funeral E-Commerce strategy.

Timmins said,

“I’m thrilled to join PlotBox and help lead the next chapter of innovation in end-of-life software.  It’s a unique opportunity to apply my experience scaling technology to a new area of the industry and build meaningful, scalable solutions that support families during life’s most important moments.”

In welcoming Timmons, PlotBox CEO Sean McAllister said,

“I’m very happy to say that in Deena, we’ve found the right leader to take our E-Commerce strategy forward.  E-commerce will be key to the growth of our business, enabling us to both meet and drive the rapidly accelerating demands for digital accessibility for families to the deathcare operators.  Our branded digital platform EverAfter Connect will be just one of the ways our customers will be able to create lasting connections online, while also creating a seamless experience between the home and the cemetery, with a carefully curated sales journey both online and onsite.  Also key, is expanding and enhancing our offering to funeral homes and combo operators, with solutions that will enable them to provide exceptional customer service, while creating opportunities for growth.”

About PlotBox

PlotBox is the innovative cloud-based deathcare management solution that helps cemeteries, crematories, and funeral homes to excel.  The intuitive, easy-to-use platform seamlessly places all essential deathcare management functions into one place. This enables customers to serve better, save time, increase revenue, reduce risk – and sustain long-term growth.  The 120-strong company is headquartered in Northern Ireland, with on-the-ground teams in the United States and Australia. This means the growing multidisciplinary team can consistently deliver exceptional levels of service, both globally and locally.  PlotBox is more than a vendor. They are a dedicated partner focused on each customer’s success – and the families they serve.

Foundation Partners Group Appoints John D. Smith as CEO

WINTER PARK, Fla. (January 13, 2025) – Foundation Partners Group, the second largest provider of funeral services in the United States, today announced the appointment of John D. Smith as chief executive officer (CEO). Smith, a passionate and resilient leader with a proven track record of driving organizational success, joins Foundation Partners at a pivotal time of growth and transformation.

“John’s experience delivering transformative growth, operational excellence and cultural evolution makes him the ideal leader to guide Foundation Partners into its next chapter,” said Henry Hagan, chairman of the Foundation Partners board. “Throughout his career, he has successfully scaled organizations and transformed legacy business models into customer-centric, omnichannel success stories. His ability to implement strategic initiatives, optimize operations and build high-performing teams has consistently delivered measurable results.”

Smith most recently served as chairman and CEO of New York City-based Icon Parking, where he garnered the National Parking Association’s Innovator of the Year Award in 2023. Prior to joining Icon, he was chief operating officer at Aaron’s Inc., a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions. Smith has dedicated his career to building innovative consumer experiences across multiple industries, including chief executive roles in retail, hospitality, restaurants, entertainment and board positions at the Atlanta Convention & Visitor’s Bureau and Carrolls Corporation, one of the largest restaurant franchisees in North America.

Chris Blackwell, Foundation Partners interim CEO who led the search to find the new CEO, said, “In a competitive search, John emerged as the candidate uniquely suited to inspire our funeral directors and the entire team to deliver on our mission to bring ease and comfort to families.“

Rick Tuss, former owner of Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home and current Foundation Partners partnership consultant, agrees. “John’s appointment signals an exciting new era for Foundation Partners and the industry. His ability to balance innovation with the deeply rooted traditions of funeral services ensures that families will continue to receive compassionate care while benefiting from new, forward-thinking solutions.”

Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Temple University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

“I am honored to join Foundation Partners and work alongside a talented team dedicated to transforming the end-of-life experience in funeral and cremation services,” said Smith. “Together, we will build on the company’s strong foundation, innovate, embrace change and create positive meaningful experiences for the families we serve.”

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About Foundation Partners Group 

Winter Park, Florida-based Foundation Partners Group is one of the industry’s most innovative providers of funeral services and the second-largest funeral home group in the country based on the number of families served. Foundation Partners owns and operates a network of over 250 funeral homes, cremation centers and cemeteries across 21 states. Our deep understanding of technology and customer experience-centered approach allows us to deliver truly innovative and compassionate care to the families we serve. Visit www.foundationpartners.com to learn more. 

Batesville Appoints Company Veteran Matt Wessel to Lead its Growing Cremation Business

BATESVILLE, Ind., October 14, 2024 – Batesville, a leading provider of burial, cremation and technology solutions to deathcare professionals in North America, announced the appointment of Matt Wessel as Vice President of its Cremation Business. A 22-year veteran of Batesville, Wessel will lead the development and execution of the company’s cremation strategy, working with product managers, designers, engineers, and analysts to build and maintain a robust array of cremation urns, keepsakes, alternative containers, hardboards, remembrance jewelry, and memorialization products that provide the value that today’s families demand.

Wessel has served in a variety of strategy and marketing leadership roles at Batesville, including Director of Strategy, where he had responsibility for leading the company’s strategy management and business planning process. He was named Director of Strategic Initiatives – Cremation in 2022 and led a cross-functional team that has successfully reinvigorated the company’s cremation value proposition. Under his leadership, Batesville has added several consumer-facing retail tools, as well as more than 150 new cremation products, including a collection of value-priced NewPointe^® cremation urns, new rental products, contemporary jewelry, and an exclusive line of artisan-made Rookwood ceramic pottery urns.

“Matt understands the unique challenges funeral homes face in serving cremation families but also recognizes there are tremendous opportunities to help customers meet their business goals, while providing meaningful experiences for families,” said Jenn Parvin, Batesville SVP and Chief Marketing Officer.

Wessel received a BS in Marketing from Clemson University and completed his MBA at Xavier University.

ABOUT BATESVILLE SERVICES, LLC

Batesville (www.Batesville.com) is a recognized leader in the death care industry in North America, offering a comprehensive portfolio of burial and cremation products, memorialization options and innovative technology solutions. For more than 125 years, Batesville has supported licensed funeral professionals in helping families honor the lives of those they love.^® A history of manufacturing excellence, product innovation, superior customer service, and reliable delivery helped Batesville become – and remain – a market leader.

Foundation Partners Group Appoints David Waltzer Chief Financial Officer

Company Enters New Phase of Growth in End-of-Life Services

WINTER PARK, Fla. – September 10, 2024 – Foundation Partners Group, the nation’s second largest provider of funeral services, today announced the appointment of David Waltzer as Chief Financial Officer. Waltzer will oversee financial strategies and operations supporting the company’s long-term growth and expansion into a broader range of end-of-life planning services.

“David brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in financial leadership that will be invaluable as we expand our footprint in end-of-life services,” said Chris Blackwell, Foundation Partners’ interim CEO.  “He is a results-driven, detail-oriented operator with a keen understanding of the balance between business partnership and operating performance. David will play a critical role as we integrate new partners to bring a comprehensive solution to end-of-life planning that will streamline and simplify the experience for families across the United States.”

With 36 years of experience, Waltzer has held leadership positions in multi-unit healthcare services, manufacturing, distribution, and consumer products and services. He most recently served as CFO at Wellpath where he managed care for over 260,000 patients daily across the U.S. and Australia. He began his career as a senior auditor at Arthur Andersen, followed by roles at Lockheed Martin and National Dentex, LLC.

Waltzer holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and accounting from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a master’s in business from the University of Baltimore.

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About Foundation Partners Group  

Winter Park, Florida-based Foundation Partners Group is one of the industry’s most innovative providers of funeral services and the second-largest funeral home group in the country based on the number of families served. Foundation Partners owns and operates a network of over 230 funeral homes, cremation centers and cemeteries across 21 states. Our deep understanding of technology and customer experience-centered approach allows us to deliver truly innovative and compassionate care to the families we serve. Visit www.foundationpartners.com to learn more.